Ludhiana teen wins Eco-Hero award for pollinator gardens
16-year-old Gunisha Kaur from Ludhiana has been recognized for her 'Buzzing Blooms' initiative, which creates pollinator gardens that also serve as inclusive spaces for neurodivergent children. The project has successfully increased local pollinator species richness by 155% across multiple Indian cities.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of urban biodiversity conservation and social inclusion for neurodivergent individuals in industrial environments.
At a time when urban green spaces are increasingly important for biodiversity, 16-year-old Gunisha Kaur from Ludhiana, Punjab, is working to create gardens that serve two purposes: providing habitats for pollinators and making nature more accessible to children with diverse needs.Her initiative, Buzzing Blooms, has established more than 20 pollinator gardens and ecological restoration projects across Ludhiana, Meerut, Mumbai and partner communities. Over 24 months of monitoring, these gardens recorded a 155% increase in pollinator species richness, from 18 to 46 species, according to Action For Nature, which named Gunisha its third-place winner in the 2026 International Young Eco-Hero Awards.The project brings together biodiversity conservation, community participation and inclusive outdoor spaces, reflecting Gunisha’s belief that environmental restoration should also consider the people who use these spaces.How Buzzing Blooms beganGrowing up in Ludhiana, a heavily industrialised city, Gunisha noticed a decline in local pollinator populations over the years.
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